Biography

Terry Robertson is a partner with Harper Grey LLP. He is a well known litigator practicing in the areas of criminal law, professional regulation, personal injury and insurance matters.

A leader in the profession, Terry has long served on executive boards, committees and councils. He is a former Governor of the Law Foundation of BC, a former board member of the Legal Services Society of BC and member of the Canadian Bar Association Advisory Committee to the Provincial Judicial Council that vetted Federal Judicial appointments.

Terry was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988, a designation that recognizes a lawyer's skill, contribution to the profession and to the justice system.

Terry was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia. He practiced with Rankin & Company from 1964 to 1980, with Robertson & Peck from 1980 to 1990, and has been at Harper Grey for more than 20 years.

Education

• University of British Columbia, LL.B., 1963
• University of British Columbia, B.A., 1960

 Bar Admissions

• Appointed Queen's Counsel, 1988
• Yukon Territory, 1987
• British Columbia, 1964

 Leadership

• Member, Canadian Bar Association  - BC Branch, Administrative Law, Civil Litigation, Criminal Justice and Health Law Subsections
• Member, Trial Lawyers Association of BC
• Lecturer, UBC Faculty of Law Appellate Advocacy Course, Professional Legal Training Course (Bar Admissions) and Inns of Court Project  
• Member, Legal Services Society of BC Advisory Committee on Supreme Court of Canada Appeals
• Member, Legal Services Society Enhanced Fee Panel
• Special Prosecutor for the Ministry of Attorney General
• Former Conflicts Administrator, BC Gaming Commission
• Appointed Member, Minister of Justice's Advisory Committee on Federal Judicial Appointments for the Province of British Columbia, 2005

Recognition

• Recognized as a "Local Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation which vets lawyers who are repeatedly recommended by clients and peers as reputable and effective litigators, 2012

Client Work

Professional Regulation

• Policy Advisor to the Provincial Government on public policy issues including drafting of extensive amendments to the School Act, the establishment of public school teaching as a self-governing profession, and the drafting of the Teaching Profession Act
• Counsel to the Royal Commission on Workers’ Compensation in BC 1997-1999
• Acting for the appellant doctor in the BC Court of Appeal allowing the doctor’s appeal from a Supreme Court decision and overturning the decision of the College of Physicians and Surgeons denying the doctor renewal of his licence. Auchong v. College of Physicians and Surgeons
• General advisor to lawyers of Harper Grey LLP on various issues involving the Workers’ Compensation Act including immunity from suit for doctors who are designated as workers and employees of their management companies, in the Supreme Court of Canada case Kovach v. Singh 

Criminal Law

• Defending an individual charged with manslaughter who, while defending himself, struck an attacker who sustained brain injuries and died as a result
• Defending various health care professionals including physicians against criminal charges
• Defending clients charged with sexual assualt, dangerous driving causing death, posission of a prohibited weapon, robbery, possession of illicit drugs and possession of counterfeit money
• Defending a physician charged with voyeurism
• Special prosecutions on behalf of the Ministry of Attorney General, including criminal charge assessments in matters involving politicians and high profile disputes
• Counsel to a defendant in the Air India matter
• Acting as counsel for the accused in Regina v. Pontes where the Supreme Court of Canada upheld all the lower court decisions that a section of the Motor Vehicle Act of BC contravened the Charter.

Personal Injury

• Representing a tatoo artist who was struck as a pedestrian. The artist incurred serious brain injuries. He supports three children. The matter included a Part 7 action for total disability benefits, even though the client had never filed a tax return.
• Representing a severely brain injured construction worker who was in a passenger vehicle that left the highway, resulting in a total loss
• Representing a 19-year old woman with severe multiple injuries resulting from a childhood accident. Her leg was eventually amputated and she received $2 million in damages.
• Representing a client who sustained serious head injuries while a passenger in a left-turning vehicle

Insurance

• Frequent advisor and counsel to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) on coverage and bad faith insurance issues on automobile claims
• Representing ICBC in an appeal reversing a trial judge’s decision to set aside a release signed by an injured Plaintiff,  Gindis v. Brisbourne
• Representing ICBC in a matter where damages awarded by the trial judge were reduced by $ million,  Cotton v. West
• Special prosecution of an appeal against conviction in the Supreme Court of Canda. The charge involved two counts of criminal negligence causing death. Terry acted for ICBC in this matter.
• Co-counsel for ICBC in a Supreme Court of Canada matter relating to a judgment in which the BC Court of Appeal held the Attorney General vicariously liable to pay damages resulting from the death of a driver in a crash that occurred during a police chase of a stolen car. The appeal was dismissed, Attorney General of British Columbia v. ICBC

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